Saab has received a contract worth about SEK 2.6 billion (approximately USD 270 million) from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to continue conceptual studies on future fighter systems between 2025 and 2027.
The agreement expands upon the March 2024 contract under Sweden’s *Koncept för Framtida Stridsflyg* (KFS) — the Future Combat Aviation Concept — and covers studies of manned and unmanned aircraft from a “system-of-systems” perspective, along with technology development and demonstrator projects.
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Saab will continue working in partnership with FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), GKN Aerospace, and other industrial and institutional partners.
Strategic independence and lessons from the war in Ukraine
Launched in 2023, the KFS program is a key element in Sweden’s long-term combat aviation roadmap, shaping the next generation of air capabilities independently from the international GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) led by the United Kingdom.
Sweden, an early participant in the Team Tempest consortium, decided to leave GCAP after its merger with Japan’s F-X project in 2022, opting instead to assess its own strategic needs in light of the war in Ukraine, NATO membership, and rising defense investments.
Focus on stealth, autonomy, and electronic warfare
The new Swedish concept prioritizes low observability, autonomy, and electronic warfare — areas where Saab has been advancing rapidly. In 2025, the company conducted flight tests of the Gripen E with the Centaur agent, developed by the German defense AI company Helsing, which made tactical decisions during beyond-visual-range combat missions.
The next phase of studies will focus on advancing technologies for manned–unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and the application of artificial intelligence in air combat. Saab has also been testing stealth drone configurations and “loyal wingman” concepts, in which unmanned aircraft operate alongside manned fighters.
Procurement decision expected by 2031
The funded conceptual phase runs through 2027, with demonstrator development planned to begin in 2026 and a procurement decision expected around 2031. The timeline aligns with the Swedish Air Force’s modernization plan and the replacement cycle for the Gripen fleet.
Source and images: Saab Newsroom. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
